Everything we say, do or think has consequences. That’s the bit following whatever it is that we have said, done or thought…the sequel…the aftermath. There will always be something that follows. And there will always be people who struggle with the truth of that inevitability.
Accepting the concept of consequence is merely the tip of an emotional iceberg. What follows is accepting the ownership of and responsibility for that which follows whatever it is that we have said, done or thought. It’s personal. We said it, we did it, we thought it. It’s ours and ours alone.
When the consequence is a good one we are eager to embrace it. We bask in the glory of positivity. When it’s a bad one we look for excuses…someone or something else to blame. In an attempt to dodge liability it’s likely we will exacerbate the situation. We make a bad situation worse.
It’s not always possible to predict the outcome of a situation or event. More often than not, though, it’s possible to foresee the potential impact of our own contribution to that situation or event. We know when we are about to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing or when we are thinking the wrong thing. Equally we know when our contribution is going to be a positive one.
That’s where choice comes in. When faced with alternatives we have the opportunity to select the preference that suits us best. The decision is ours and ours alone. The responsibility for the outcome is also ours and ours alone.
It makes good sense then to take a moment to think, to weigh up the possibilities before we open our mouths or do something we may later regret.
It’s possible to change the way we will feel and live tomorrow by altering the way we think and act today. The choice is ours.
Gary Bentley Counselling 